[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60763-60764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29211]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 215 / Monday, November 8, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 60763]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[FV-00-327N]
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole
Grain) Corn
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is revising the United States Standards for Grades
of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn. Specifically, AMS is
providing for the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product
grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's),
tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable defects);
including varietal types of supersweet varieties in the grade
standards; replacing dual grade nomenclature with single letter grade
designations; removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria
from the grade standards and providing the criteria in the grading
manual; removing the score sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and
making minor editorial changes. These changes will improve the use of
the standard.
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 8, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen L. Kaufman, Processed Products
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456; Washington,
D.C. 20090-6456; fax (202) 690-1087; or e-mail Karen.Kaufman@usda.gov.
The current United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel
(Whole Grain) Corn, along with the changes, are available either
through the address cited above or by accessing AMS's Home Page on the
Internet at: www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegcan.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946, as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, condition,
quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such
standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in
commercial practices * * * .'' The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that
facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies
of official standards available upon request. The United States
Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel Corn do not appear in the
Code of Federal Regulations but are maintained by USDA.
AMS received a petition from the National Food Processors
Association (NFPA), requesting that the U.S. grade standards for canned
whole kernel corn be revised. NFPA represents over 550 food industry
companies 1.
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\1\ Source--USDA, NASS, ASB.
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NFPA specifically requested that the U.S. grade standards for
canned whole kernel corn, which are currently based on cumulative score
points, be modified by converting the U.S. grade standards to
statistically-based individual attributes grade standards, similar to
the U.S. grade standards for canned green and wax beans (58 FR 4295,
January 14, 1993).
In addition, NFPA requested the grade standards include other
varietal types i.e., supersweet corn. These newer varieties possess
flavor, tenderness, and maturity characteristics that vary somewhat
from conventional corn. The proposed revision of the grade standards
would include the quality characteristics for these varietal types, for
example, appearance, cut, flavor and odor, tenderness and maturity,
extraneous vegetable material, specified defects, seriously damaged
kernels, damaged kernels and pulled kernels.
NFPA also proposed removing the recommended minimum drained weight
criteria from the grade standards and relocating it in the Grading
Manual for Canned Whole Kernel Corn since drained weight, as such, is
not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades.
AMS also proposed to change the standard by replacing dual grade
nomenclature with single letter grade designations; removing the
recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards
and providing the criteria in the grading manual; removing the score
sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and making minor editorial changes.
A notice proposing changes to the United States Standards for
Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn was published in the
March 4, 1999, Federal Register (63 FR 2357). AMS received three
comments on the Notice, two (NFPA and Midwest Food Processors
Association) in favor of their recommended changes and one (a private
industry canner) against the proposed changes to the standards. NFPA
and the Midwest Food Processors Association submitted very similar
proposals and are in agreement with the proposed changes. The commentor
that opposed believed that the proposed change, from cumulative score
points, to individual attributes, would create an unfair business
environment and ``that the energy and time that it would take to change
the Industry to the new standards is unnecessary and does not outweigh
the benefits that would be gained''.
AMS believes that revisions to the standard are needed to meet the
needs of the industry and that these changes will allow for a more
equitable marketing environment for all canned whole kernel corn
processors.
Accordingly, based on all the information we have reviewed, AMS is
changing the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel Corn by
providing for the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product
grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's),
tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable defects);
including varietal types of supersweet varieties in the grade
standards; replacing dual grade nomenclature with single letter grade
designations; removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria
from the grade standards and provide the criteria in the grading
manual; removing the score sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and
making minor editorial changes.
This revision becomes effective 30 days after date of publication
of this notice in the Federal Register.
[[Page 60764]]
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: November 2, 1999.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-29211 Filed 11-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
